OT: toddler temper tantrums

We were in a restaurant and he decided to throw the biggest fit. It would have put a nuclear meltdown to shame!!! We tried going outside, talking to him, even tappin his little butt to get his attention. And nothing worked!!

So after 45 min he finally started calming down and this man proceeded to tell me how bad of a parent I was and that I needed to be the grown up and teach my 20mo how to behave in a restaurant and that I should have been more considerate to the other patrons and I should have left all together!

I am so frustrated with him acting like this. We literally cannot go anywhere!

What do I do? :-(

Ok ladies. Need some advice... My 20mo about got me arrested tonight.

We were in a restaurant and he decided to throw the biggest fit. It would have put a nuclear meltdown to shame!!! We tried going outside, talking to him, even tappin his little butt to get his attention. And nothing worked!!

So after 45 min he finally started calming down and this man proceeded to tell me how bad of a parent I was and that I needed to be the grown up and teach my 20mo how to behave in a restaurant and that I should have been more considerate to the other patrons and I should have left all together!

I am so frustrated with him acting like this. We literally cannot go anywhere!

You are not alone. My son is a little over 2 1/2 and we have drastically cut down our eating out. Tantrums so bad we would have to rush the servers to just get our food to go rather then eat in. Apparently a lot of other people do this too. Now we only eat out if it's just DH and I or if our parents are there to help out. Sad, but true.As for that dumb man, brush it off. He's nosy and probably has no idea how hard it is to deal with a small person. I swear the looks I get from some people just make me want to go over and slap them.

You are not alone. My son is a little over 2 1/2 and we have drastically cut down our eating out. Tantrums so bad we would have to rush the servers to just get our food to go rather then eat in. Apparently a lot of other people do this too. Now we only eat out if it's just DH and I or if our parents are there to help out. Sad, but true.As for that dumb man, brush it off. He's nosy and probably has no idea how hard it is to deal with a small person. I swear the looks I get from some people just make me want to go over and slap them.

After a couple handfuls of trips to the bathroom where DD got swatted she stopped throwing fits. A lot of the times she would do it thinking because we are out somewhere she would get away with it.

As for the guy, I had a similar experience when flying from Texas to Alaska with DD when she was almost 3. She was tired and cranky and pitched a fit the entire time from Texas to Arizona, when we boarded the flight into Alaska they sat us next to a very snippy guy and his SO. When DD started pitching a fit because I wouldn't let her down, wouldn't let her get into things, and she wanted to keep herself awake he started whining to the stewardess. It pissed enough people off that another person offered up his seat just so I didn't have to sit next to this jerk. Another lady with 2 kids told him if he didn't like her whining why didn't he offer to help me out; which he finally shut up and started minding his own business. About 3 mins after that she was out cold.

After a couple handfuls of trips to the bathroom where DD got swatted she stopped throwing fits. A lot of the times she would do it thinking because we are out somewhere she would get away with it.

As for the guy, I had a similar experience when flying from Texas to Alaska with DD when she was almost 3. She was tired and cranky and pitched a fit the entire time from Texas to Arizona, when we boarded the flight into Alaska they sat us next to a very snippy guy and his SO. When DD started pitching a fit because I wouldn't let her down, wouldn't let her get into things, and she wanted to keep herself awake he started whining to the stewardess. It pissed enough people off that another person offered up his seat just so I didn't have to sit next to this jerk. Another lady with 2 kids told him if he didn't like her whining why didn't he offer to help me out; which he finally shut up and started minding his own business. About 3 mins after that she was out cold.

When I was a kid and would do that my parents would take me out to the car, strap me in my car seat, close the door (with a window cracked obviously) and then lean against the door with their back turned. They would remind me once every to minutes for my age (for for a two year old that's every 4 minutes) that they would not talk to me, or take me out until I stopped.

I know the exact line up of events now cause my mom was explaining it to my BFF who has a toddler with a temper

They said it sucked because sometimes one would end up eating alone and bringing the others food out to go, but I did it about 3 times in a row and then quickly learned it was much more fun to sit inside quietly than in the car screaming my head off and being ignored. Every blue moon I'd push the limit again but they'd just do the same thing.

It makes sense, it was a fair punishment and it kept me out and away from the other patrons.

Also, if I didn't get my behavior in check in time to make it back into the restaurant it was straight to bed, no story as soon as we got home.

Don't know if that helps or is your style of parenting, but they swear by it and now my BFF has done it with her toddler and swears by it too...

When I was a kid and would do that my parents would take me out to the car, strap me in my car seat, close the door (with a window cracked obviously) and then lean against the door with their back turned. They would remind me once every to minutes for my age (for for a two year old that's every 4 minutes) that they would not talk to me, or take me out until I stopped.

I know the exact line up of events now cause my mom was explaining it to my BFF who has a toddler with a temper

They said it sucked because sometimes one would end up eating alone and bringing the others food out to go, but I did it about 3 times in a row and then quickly learned it was much more fun to sit inside quietly than in the car screaming my head off and being ignored. Every blue moon I'd push the limit again but they'd just do the same thing.

It makes sense, it was a fair punishment and it kept me out and away from the other patrons.

Also, if I didn't get my behavior in check in time to make it back into the restaurant it was straight to bed, no story as soon as we got home.

Don't know if that helps or is your style of parenting, but they swear by it and now my BFF has done it with her toddler and swears by it too...

My son is 25 mo old and he's okay in public, but it has taken a lot of work. We went to restaurants a lot when he was smaller so he was use to the idea. Now we explain where we are going, how long we will be there and how we need to act before we leave and in the car. We also bring toys to entertain him. Once we get to a restaurant my husband and I will alternate on taking him around and explaining where we are. We explain that we are quiet when we eat and show him how everyone else is quiet. On airplanes we practice how we will behave. We also schedule flights as close to nap or bed time as possible so he will sleep. We have had a few melt downs, but with all the extra work they are usually kept to a minimum. Toddlers don't always understand what is going on and can get very uncomfortable in normal situations. I have found that by constantly reassuring him before there is an issue will keep him happy. We also try to do something special that is geared towards him once a week. I hope that helps.

My son is 25 mo old and he's okay in public, but it has taken a lot of work. We went to restaurants a lot when he was smaller so he was use to the idea. Now we explain where we are going, how long we will be there and how we need to act before we leave and in the car. We also bring toys to entertain him. Once we get to a restaurant my husband and I will alternate on taking him around and explaining where we are. We explain that we are quiet when we eat and show him how everyone else is quiet. On airplanes we practice how we will behave. We also schedule flights as close to nap or bed time as possible so he will sleep. We have had a few melt downs, but with all the extra work they are usually kept to a minimum. Toddlers don't always understand what is going on and can get very uncomfortable in normal situations. I have found that by constantly reassuring him before there is an issue will keep him happy. We also try to do something special that is geared towards him once a week. I hope that helps.

We always ate out with our toddler since she was an infant, so she was very accustomed to it. But she's not always an angel. At 18 mo I started reprimanding her with timeout. We stayed consistant, were firm, but didnt yell. By 2, she definitely understood the concept. Acting up at the table simply isn't acceptible. We always go into the foyer and sit down for the length of time her age is. Afterwards she says she's sorry and we'll all give hugs. We also do positive reinforcement. The only candy we allow are Dum Dums. She'll get one after a good meal out. We also used these for potty training and it worked well. But, you have to be realistic... If you know your kid is going to be crabby, it's prob best to stay home. For example, Hailey is now 3 1/2 and I can reason with her well now. But, if she's been out in sun all day running around and never napped or rested, I know she's going to be a trainwreck by 5. Read "happiest toddler on the block" I heard it's a great one.

We always ate out with our toddler since she was an infant, so she was very accustomed to it. But she's not always an angel. At 18 mo I started reprimanding her with timeout. We stayed consistant, were firm, but didnt yell. By 2, she definitely understood the concept. Acting up at the table simply isn't acceptible. We always go into the foyer and sit down for the length of time her age is. Afterwards she says she's sorry and we'll all give hugs. We also do positive reinforcement. The only candy we allow are Dum Dums. She'll get one after a good meal out. We also used these for potty training and it worked well. But, you have to be realistic... If you know your kid is going to be crabby, it's prob best to stay home. For example, Hailey is now 3 1/2 and I can reason with her well now. But, if she's been out in sun all day running around and never napped or rested, I know she's going to be a trainwreck by 5. Read "happiest toddler on the block" I heard it's a great one.

Oh yeah, we also pack a back with a couple books, a coloring book and crayons. Also, if you have an iPhone, load it with some fun toddler games and Disney movies! Works like a charm at the restaurant or on a plane. Fisher Price makes toddler friendly headphones too.

Oh yeah, we also pack a back with a couple books, a coloring book and crayons. Also, if you have an iPhone, load it with some fun toddler games and Disney movies! Works like a charm at the restaurant or on a plane. Fisher Price makes toddler friendly headphones too.

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